Abstract

Aim: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an auto-inflammatory disease which is characterized by amyloid deposition in multiple organs.Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and augmentation index (AIx) are associated with cardiovascular diseases and important predictors of long term prognosis.We aimed to investigate effect of amyloidosis and amount of proteinuria on subclinical atherosclerosis determined by PWV and AIx in patients with FMF.
Material and Methods: Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx) were measured in 35 FMF patients (12 amyloidosis and 23 non-amyloidosis) and in 34 control subjects.Demographic, clinical and laboratory features and aortic stiffness parameters were compared between three groups (control, FMF with and without amyloidosis).
Results: There was no difference between groups in terms of age, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors. AIx was higher in FMF patients with amyloidosis compared with FMF patients without amyloidosis and control group (respectively; p = 0.04, p = 0.006).AIx did not differ between FMF patients without amyloidosis and control group (p = 0.4).There was a positive correlation between AIx and amount of proteinuria in patients with FMF (r=0.51,p=0.002).Multivariable linear regression analysisdemonstrated that age, presence of amyloidosis and amount of proteinuria were independent factors affecting AIx.
Conclusion: AIx is increased in FMF related amyloidosis.Presence of amyloidosis and amount of proteinuria in patients of FMF may be associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

Key words: Amyloidosis; aortic stiffness; atherosclerosis; familial mediterranean fever; nonamyloid kidney disease; proteinuria.